"We moved to Watonga
in 1936. We had two children, Carlene and
Kennith. We rented a building and opened a
station and grocery at the southwest corner of
the four corner intersection. Gas was 10
and 11 cents per gallon. The building had
to be torn down and moved back for Highway 33 to
be paved. Isaac Morles owned the land, Tim
Roever rented the land and built a 2 story
building with living quarters in back and on top
story, which Dorn rented from him.

"In January 1942,
gas, oil, tires, butter, sugar and meat was
rationed as a result of World War II.
Stamps were mailed to people to use for these
items. Dorn felt it was to complicated to
keep up with, so sold out stock in station and
store and left. In August of 1945 after
war ended, we returned to Watonga and bought 5
lots on block 16. There were no businesses
on Highway 33 at this time. Dorn built
grocery and station together and then later
built a separate building for station.
Dorn bought a cement cast mule in San Antonio,
and brought it to put on top of station.
The business was named Dorn's Trading Post.
We sold all types of food items, complete meat
market, souvenir items, Indian jewelry, etc.

In March, 1946, we
built a home on lot just west of business.
In 1937 margarine first was available, it came
white in 1 lb. blocks and had a red pill in box
to mix with it for color. We bought eggs
from farmers and they would trade out in
groceries, gas and kerosene. They used
kerosene for lamps, cook stoves, heat stoves,
and brooder houses. It sold for 10 cents a
gallon. We sold malt to make home brew.
Store hours were 6 am to 11 pm seven days a
week.

Dorn would never charge to anyone. If they
didn't have the money, he would take out his
billfold and say, "I will loan you the money".

People would pick or chop cotton and they would
always stop to buy groceries for lunch, they
would be paid each evening and cash the checks
and buy groceries for evening meal.

Farmers would come into town with pick-ups and
take workers out to fields. For a time,
quite a lot of broomcorn was grown and they
worked pulling it. Dorn would go to
Oklahoma City Farmers Market and haul fresh
product and grocery items from Griffins
Wholesale most every day.

Dorn was always interested in promoting Watonga.
He bred and raised quarter horses and mules.
He was always a participant in parades, booster
parades, Watonga Trail Rides held at Roman Nose
State Park the first weekend in May each year,
rodeos and horse shows, and Pioneer Days in
September. He built a stagecoach to take
to out-of-town parades to promote Watonga and
also used it to bring Santa Claus to town.

After Dorn's death, Kennith bought the station;
Carlene bought the store which she later sold to
Willy Cruts."

I don't know what date these newspaper articles
are, but they are very interesting.